Month: April 2010

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One of Those Days

As the alarm sounded this morning my mind immediately begin to run the list of the events of the day.  This at 7:30, that at 8, this at 10, that at 11, this at 11:30, that at 1, and that at 1, this at 2 and 3 and then this and then that… oh man….  I really just wanted to unplug the alarm clock and sleep.. until tomorrow.

There as to be more reason for the day then what lies ahead of me today.   Even as I write this this morning, I am anxious for the 3 little numbers in the bottom left corner of my monitor.  Its just doesn’t seem right, the sun has not peeked its head over Big Frog Mountain, and I am wound as tight as a … well something that is wound too tight…

So I turned my attention to two familiar passages this morning and I hope they stick with me today.

25“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? 26Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? 27Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life……O you of little faith? 31So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 34Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. Matthew 6:25-34

13Now listen, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money.” 14Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. 15Instead, you ought to say, “If it is the Lord’s will, we will live and do this or that.” James 4:13-17

Also I have prayed this morning/am praying all day for God to use me in this business.  My prayer today is that I will focus on him and what he is bringing in front on me instead of the hectic schedule. It seems to be calming a little, so far.  But seriously, maybe your days are like this too.  I am going to try all day to focus on God and his desires in the midst of insanity and see how it goes.

I think maybe this is part of what he is getting at? Give it over to God today and see where it leads you!

Oh BTW, the Caleb Factor number is now 182 ( down 2) and the goal is still 174.  That’s a good start!

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Happy Tax Day

Yeah right!  Tax Day and Happy just don’t go together do they?  I already posted something about that last week.  So looking past the obvious dark cloud of the day, lets focus on some other things.  April 15 is also the day the Titanic sank, the anniversary of Lincoln’s assassination, and the day the first McDonald’s opened.  and if that’s not enough, it also National That Sucks Day!

But slow down, its really not that bad, its National High Five Day!

(you really need to watch that video)

Yes National High Five Day (NH5D).  Let’s do that!  What an excellent way to move out of the doldrums that could happen on April 15 and move forward with power!

10He died for us so that, whether we are awake or asleep, we may live together with him. 11Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing. 1 Thessalonians 5:10-11 (New International Version)

Get out there today and encourage others.  Use each encounter with a person to build them up. Make the other person better.  Show the love you have been given.  Strive to end each interaction with a high five.  I would love to hear of the joy this brings to you and to the people you meet.

Its National High Five Day, Sucka!

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Breakfast Commentary

This morning as I was fixing Alex’s customary toaster waffle, Amy came in and started to make herself a few pieces of raisin toast.  When she was unable to get the packaging open, she call in backup. So after I helped her get it open, I asked her if she wanted the heal, to which she replied,  you know it – “Nobody likes the heel”

Nobody likes the heel.  ( well i am sure there are a few people out there who do, but really???)  The heal is just not that good.  Of course this immediately took my mind to the sixth chapter of John ( well actually, it reminded me of a verse and a search engine took me to John).

47I tell you the truth, he who believes has everlasting life. 48I am the bread of life. 49Your forefathers ate the manna in the desert, yet they died. 50But here is the bread that comes down from heaven, which a man may eat and not die. 51I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever. This bread is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.” John 6:47-51 (New International Version)

So in the John 6, Jesus called himself the bread of life.  He mentions that He is the nourishment that people need.  It a very funny exchange between he and his listeners.  But the point is interesting.  From His word, and his teaching and his gifts, we have all we need.  We have the Bread of life and we are blessed!

And we are to show his love and his life to others. Which means indirectly we offer the bread of life. (Not because of ourselves, but because we point to Him).  So today, what will you do?  What choices will you make that point the people you meet to the bread of life.  Will you be the heel? Or as Amy did this morning, will add peanut butter to the bread that makes it even more attractive.

Live it, and share it.

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Flat Water Ahead?

Well, I broke down and did it on Saturday night.  I bought a boat!  Well, a canoe.  A nice inexpensive 14′.  I did it for Alex.  He has been asking for a canoe or kayak for a few years. And some recent thoughts and events encouraged me to move forward.

Remember that one of my goals for 2010 was to become obsessed – obsessed with God and to let him impact my life.  So with that in mind, I was recently reminded about the shortness of life and the short amount of time our children are in our homes.  That reminded me of this picture.

Those 4 men are my fathers.  Well, the baby is my actual father, but the other 3 are his father and his father and his father.  So that’s 4 generations back in the history of my family.  I would be the fifth and my sons the sixth standing on the right.  I starting thinking how little I really know about the two men on the left.  I know their names, their wife’s and their children’s names, and even their birth and death dates.  I have even stood at the foot of their graves.  But the only thing I really know about them exists through what I know about my grandfather and my father.  I don’t know how they lived each day, but the overall impact of their choices and decisions for sure have had impact on me.  So then I look forward and I think about 4 generations ahead and what they will write on their iMinds ( that’s an futuristic Apple product that just connects directly to your brain!) about their grandparents?

Deep stuff, so what does that have to do with a boat? Everything!

I figure that my legacy for those potential future generation is set in the way I approach every single day.  I don’t have huge plans of grandeur.  But I think that each day, I can live in a way that when the “complete body of work” is examined, it will be something that points one direction – Heaven.

I hope this boat can me an instrument to help.  For you it may be golf clubs, the kitchen, or long drives.  But I am sure there are things in your life that you can use as opportunities to share the gifts we have been given.  Of course that’s on top of living each and every day in a way that brings glory to our Lord and Savior.

16Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God. 17And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. Colossians 3:16-17 (New International Version)

18 Fix these words of mine in your hearts and minds; tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. 19 Teach them to your children, talking about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. 20 Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates, Deuteronomy 11:18-20 (New International Version)

So here’s to flat water, good paddling, great conversations and trips that bring us all closer to our God.

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Today for God?

Last night, I was listening to some clips from Francis Chan, and in this clip he mentions an idea on how to face the day.  He suggests that instead of praying today for God to give you this or to help you to that, that you instead ask God.  Ask God where he wants you today.  Ask God to lead your where he wants you to go.  Essentially instead of asking God to fit your agenda, adjust your agenda to Gods.

This is really a thought provoking way of looking at the day.  So that’s really it today.  Can you look at today and say, God, how do you want me to serve you today?  How do you want me to glorify you.. with the next customer, the next conference call, the next problem ,the next child, the next class….?

Approach you day and realize he is with you.

9Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. 10Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers. Galatians 6:9-10New International Version (NIV)